Is Garnier Cruelty-Free? (2021 Update!)

Is Garnier cruelty-free? Find out now with this update for 2021!

Garnier has been around for decades. They are one of the most-commonly seen hair and skincare brands at the drugstore. For a long time Garnier was not cruelty-free, but has that changed? I was able to have a chat with both the brand and Cruelty-Free International about the Garnier cruelty-free stance and animal testing policies. Garnier also answered some very specific questions I had for them. Find all that information and more in this post.

Curious to know what’s currently going on with Garnier? Are they cruelty-free in 2021? Are there any vegan options in the Garnier product line? Find out what their current stance on animal testing is in this post as well as information on the Garnier vegan options.

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Some of the best-selling Garnier vegan products are:

Is Garnier cruelty-free? Yes! Garnier is now cruelty-free!

I am very excited to announce that Garnier is cruelty-free! Garnier now meets all the criteria to be a Logical Harmony Approved cruelty-free brand. There is no animal testing occurring anywhere on their products. They are not selling in any markets that require animal testing, and they do not sell in retail stores in China.

They have also gone through the process to be Leaping Bunny Approved through Cruelty-Free International! This is a huge step as the process through Cruelty-Free International is complex and time-consuming.

To quote Cruelty-Free International –

Garnier had to secure a declaration from more than 500 suppliers, who source more than 3,000 different ingredients, from across the world. Only then could it be approved to display the iconic Cruelty-Free International Leaping Bunny logo.

Is Garnier proud to be certified by Cruelty-Free International?

The above requirements was echoed by the brand when I asked them about the process. I asked Garnier what being certified as cruelty-free by Cruelty-Free International meant to them. This was a big process and it took a long time to complete. Here’s what they had to say:

“Garnier has been committed to a world against animal testing since 1989, but we know that today we have to go further. That’s why we have worked closely with Cruelty Free International to have the gold standard approval and reassure our consumers all over the world. Garnier is a brand undergoing a real transformation, from improving our environmental impact to now being officially Leaping Bunny approved, we want to take every step it takes to become a truly committed brand. 

In order to achieve Leaping Bunny status, a brand must secure evidence from each supplier, which will then be audited regularly. For Garnier this was a case of securing a declaration from more than 500 suppliers, who source over 3,000 different ingredients for the brand, from across the world. For many months Garnier and Cruelty-Free International have worked together to secure this evidence and ensure every product within Garnier’s global portfolio can officially display the universally recognisable Cruelty-Free International Leaping Bunny logo.   

Also, Garnier is committed to being a truly sustainable and transparent brand. Garnier’s Green Beauty initiative is a complete end-to-end approach to sustainability. The aim is to transform every stage of Garnier’s value chain, reducing environmental impact. 

The Green Beauty initiative includes a Sustainability Progress Report, offering complete transparency on Garnier’s commitments, which can be tracked publicly via the Garnier website. This report states where Garnier stands today, mapping out the process of how the brand will reach ambitious 2025 targets. This progress report provides a clear and trackable summary of Garnier’s commitments, work which has been completed with the help of experts and scientists. All data in the progress report has also been assessed by external auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers.”

What is the new Garnier animal testing policy?

The previously published stance on animal testing from Garnier was very vague and not complete. It has not been updated to be a little more thorough.

Garnier has been committed with world without animal testing since 1989. The brand is now officially approved by Cruelty Free International under the leaping bunny programme and adhere’s to all their rigorous requirements.

– Garnier

Will Garnier be adding the Leaping Bunny logo to product packaging?

I knew that a lot of people would have this question so I asked Garnier about it immediately. Having these logos on packaging can make it simpler in stores when shopping for cruelty-free options. They also do make it really easy to teach others that aren’t well versed in cruelty-free products on how to spot the good brands out there on shelves.

“Yes, we are actively updating our packaging to display the logo, but we don’t want to destroy packaging to make it happen and thus we’re updating our packaging step by step. But don’t worry, all our products (with or without the logo displayed) are now officially approved by Cruelty Free International under the Leaping Bunny programme.”

Are Garnier products sold in China? No.

Garnier products are no longer sold in stores in mainland China. They were previously sold there in the past but have left that market. There has been confusion about this for some time, so I asked Garnier for details.

Garnier is not imported into and sold in China, and any historic sales of the Garnier brand relate to products and formulas that are no longer marketed. Garnier ceased business in China in 2017.

– Garnier

Does Garnier test on animals when required by law? No.

No. Garnier does not test on animals when required by law.  Nor do they pay for any required by law animal testing to occur on their products. Garnier does not sell in any markets that require animal testing.

Who owns Garnier?

Garnier is owned by L’Oreal. Unfortunately, L’Oreal is not cruelty-free.

I know everyone has varying opinions on buying from a cruelty-free brand whose parent company is not cruelty-free. I personally think this is a decision everyone should make for themselves. I believe that it’s always promising when a brand goes cruelty-free and can be used to show the parent company that cruelty-free matters to consumers. This is a very good time to use your voice as a potential customer. Let Garnier know that this change has an impact and let L’Oreal know that you wish they would go cruelty-free too.

Does Garnier have vegan options? Yes!

Garnier is cruelty-free and has some vegan options. It’s currently unclear if the same products are vegan in the US and UK markets, but I am getting lists from Garnier to clarify. In the UK vegan options are labeled on the packaging but they are not in the US. In the meantime, double-check product ingredient lists on the packaging to be sure. Below are some products that I have confirmed are vegan. Once I have a full list, that will be published here on Logical Harmony.

Garnier vegan hair products:

• Damage Repairing Treat Conditioner + Papaya Extract
• Damage Repairing Treat Shampoo + Papaya Extract
• Hydrating Treat 1 Minute Hair Mask + Aloe Extract
• Hydrating Treat Conditioner + Aloe Extract
• Hydrating Treat Shampoo + Aloe Extract
• Nourishing Treat Conditioner + Coconut Extract
• Nourishing Treat Shampoo + Coconut Extract
• Plumping Treat 3-In-1 Hair Mask + Watermelon Extract
• Plumping Treat Conditioner + Watermelon Extract
• Plumping Treat Shampoo + Watermelon Extract
• Pure Clean Detangler + Air Dry
• Smoothing Treat Conditioner + Avocado Extract
• Smoothing Treat Shampoo + Avocado Extract

Garnier vegan skincare products:

• Canna-B Pore Perfecting 3-in-1 Cleanser + Exfoliator + Mask
• Canna-B Pore Perfecting Serum SPF 30
• Glow Boost 2-in-1 Facial Mask and Scrub
• Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 30
• Hyalu-Melon Smoothing Milky Washable Cleanser
• Micellar Cleansing Water With Vitamin C
• Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser
• SkinActive Water Rose 24H Moisture Cream
• Water Rose Micellar Cleansing Water

Where is Garnier sold?

Garnier products are currently available on their own website, Ulta, Target, Look Fantastic, Walmart, CVS, Amazon, and in drugstores and grocery stores all over. That’s part of what makes this announcement so exciting. Garnier is such an easy to find brand!

Full press release on Garnier from Cruelty-Free International

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CRUELTY FREE INTERNATIONAL GRANTS GARNIER MILESTONE APPROVAL UNDER THE LEAPING BUNNY CRUELTY FREE PROGRAMME

• Global beauty brand Garnier has been granted approval under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme.
• Cruelty Free International, the leading organisation against animal testing, is now urging Garnier parent company, the L’Oréal Group, to seek Leaping Bunny approval for more of its brands.
• Garnier is the latest brand to become Leaping Bunny approved, following a near fourfold surge in brand enquiries. To be eligible, brands must agree to a fixed cut-off date, forensic scrutiny of all raw materials and ingredients, supplier monitoring and independent auditing.

Cruelty Free International – the leading organisation working to end animal testing – has approved cosmetics and haircare giant Garnier under its Leaping Bunny cruelty free programme. 

The Leaping Bunny is the globally recognisable gold standard for cruelty free cosmetics, personal care, household and cleaning products and demonstrates that a brand is genuinely committed to removing animal testing from its supply chain. 

Ranked as one of the world’s top ten most valuable cosmetics brands, Garnier’s empire is worth $4,664 million, making the move a significant milestone in the approval of cruelty-free cosmetics brands.

Cruelty Free International is now urging the L’Oréal Group and its other global subsidiaries to seek Leaping Bunny approval for more of its brands. The parent company behind Garnier, L’Oréal is considered the world’s most valuable cosmetics brand globally and is worth $11,747 million.

Since 2017, Leaping Bunny has seen a 190% increase in brands enquiring about Leaping Bunny status, demonstrating that global consumer demand for cruelty free products is impacting how cosmetics brands operate.

Garnier is the latest brand to join the growing Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, which requires brands to forensically investigate their entire supply chain, including all raw materials and individual ingredients, for any cases of animal testing. Approval must be given to all of a brand’s finished products – individual products or items cannot be approved in isolation.

It is the only cruelty free licence that requires a supplier monitoring system to be implemented by the brand, supply chain checking for animal testing right down to ingredient manufacturer level, adherence to a fixed cut-off date policy and acceptance of ongoing independent audits to ensure compliance. 

To meet Leaping Bunny’s strict criteria, Garnier had to secure a declaration from more than 500 suppliers, who source more than 3,000 different ingredients, from across the world. Only then could it be approved to display the iconic Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny logo.

Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International CEO, said: “Garnier is a global brand familiar to us all. To work with them to help end animal testing for cosmetics and declare them officially approved under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny Programme is a real milestone. It has taken many months, but Garnier have diligently reviewed every supplier and source and we are completely confident with the results.

“Garnier being approved under the Leaping Bunny programme is an important gear shift for major cosmetics; and a step in the right direction towards meeting the European Parliament’s call for a worldwide ban on testing cosmetics on animals by 2023, a call which Cruelty Free International wholeheartedly supports. It is the first of many L’Oréal Group brands and we urge more to step forward for Leaping Bunny approval.”

Since the 1990s, the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme has served as the most trusted gold standard programme for cruelty free products, enabling consumers to make cruelty free choices and speeding up the development of animal-free testing. The programme celebrates 25 years in 2021. 

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Here on Logical Harmony, you can find a full list of cruelty-free brands as well as shopping guides to help you find the cruelty-free brands at Dermstore, Ulta, Nordstrom, Sephora, Beauty Bay, Beautylish, Cult Beauty, and tons more. There are also lots of vegan product lists for cruelty-free brands too.

Some of the best-selling Garnier vegan products are: